SOE cancels The Agency and closes studios as part of global restructuring

Yesterday Sony Online Entertainment confirmed the rumors that it would be shutting down some of its studios and cancelling its upcoming MMO The Agency in an effort to “reduce costs and streamline its global workforce.”
SOE’s Denver, Seattle, and Tucson area studios will all be closing, eliminating some 205 jobs in the process. Projects currently in production in Denver and Seattle will be transitioned to its San Diego headquarters. Unfortunately, The Agency is being scrapped all together so the company can focus “development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties.”

The news comes as somewhat of a surprise as SOE just recently launched Free Realms on the PS3 this week. We also can’t forget the success of their hit MMORPG DC Universe Online. While these games and the rest of SOE’s current portfolio will not be impacted by the closures, it’s always disappointing to hear about any studio shutting down for good.

“As part of a strategic decision to reduce costs and streamline its global workforce, SOE announced today that it will eliminate 205 positions and close its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios. As part of this restructuring, SOE is discontinuing production of The Agency so it can focus development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties, while also maintaining its current portfolio of online games. All possible steps are being taken to ensure team members affected by the transition are treated with appropriate concern.

“This strategic decision will have no impact on SOE’s current portfolio of live games; additionally SOE will transition development efforts for the Denver and Tucson studios’ suite of products to its San Diego headquarters. This strategic alignment of development resources better positions SOE to remain a global leader in online gaming and deliver on its promise of creating entertaining games for players of all ages, and servicing the 20 million players that visited SOE servers in just the past year.”